Salem Domestic Violence Case Leads To Attempted Murder Charges

SALEM, MA -- A Salem man was indicted Wednesday on charges of attempted murder, three counts of strangulation or suffocation, four counts of assault and battery on a household member, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Jhollimar Defreitas, 36, of Salem, was arrested April 4 after police were called to his home at 21 21 Herbert Street by a friend of hi girlfriend. Defreitas's girlfriend told the woman who called police she did not feel safe.

According to the Salem News, which first reported this story, the girlfriend told police Defreitas had begun drinking and became angry when he found out she was talking to her mother. He pinned her on a bed and choked her, only stopping when he scratched her. Defreitas has been held without bail since his arrest.

For more on this story, see the Salem News. Subscribe to Salem Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).